Amazon Sets Nov. 20 Debut for 2-Part Melania Trump Series as $40 Million Film Drew Scrutiny
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Nov 6
Amazon Sets Nov. 20 Debut for 2-Part Melania Trump Series as $40 Million Film Drew Scrutiny
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Nov 6
Summary
Nov. 20 is the release date for “Melania, the Series,” a two-part Prime Video project executive produced by Melania Trump and directed by Brett Ratner, Amazon said Friday.
The series follows the first lady in the days after the 47th presidential inauguration and promises previously unseen material, arriving less than a year after the feature documentary “Melania.”
That earlier film drew scrutiny because Amazon paid $40 million for it and spent another $35 million on marketing, despite doubts a topical documentary could earn that back.
“Melania” took in $16 million worldwide, fueling questions over whether Amazon was courting favor with President Trump as a company exposed to regulation and government contracts.
The project also extends Ratner’s comeback after years in the wilderness following 2017 sexual-misconduct accusations; “Melania” was his first theatrical release in more than a decade.